J.R. McNeil

J.R. McNeil is a Canadian Permanent Resident and American Citizen who is a performance-based dancer, circus artist and actor. Stylistically, his work is very ingrained in Authentic/Vernacular Jazz and the history behind it that goes back to West African traditions. Staying historically informed, J.R. enjoys pushing the euro-centric idea of performing arts that is commonly found aside to focus on the roots of his main discipline, dance. Exploring circus and theatre/acting is essential to J.R. as a performer as he is passionate about maintaining a certain level of versatility. J.R. is known for being extremely open to learning new skills (such as custom aerial apparatus' like the aerial cube) and being thrown into the deep end of challenges. Unapologetically, truthfully, and living in the moment is the best way to describe how J.R. approaches performing and living as an artist.